NBC Olympics coverage

So, much is being made, particularly in Seattle, over the decision by NBC to tape-delay events that are happening in real-time, and show others late in the evening even on the West Coast, where as we all know, they are actually already over and the athletes safe abed.

We've been insulated from this since, as long as we were in Canada, our computer network addresses would allow us to watch CTV's excellent online coverage, which delivered events in real or near-real time. Down here south of the border, we are (at least ostensibly) restricted to NBC's paltry online offerings, which are hardly worthy of the name. In fact, since we don't have cable, we're not even able to see what they do offer. Their actual TV coverage seems to be even worse, and having just seen the glorious alternative not three hours north, it seems outrageous to me that some commentators are actually attempting to justify NBC's decision in terms of profits and ratings.

It's true that the ratings are stellar, but that's hardly telling in a monopolized market. CTV's ratings are also exploding, despite their quite different coverage style, so I don't think you can attribute it to that. There is also the fact that CBC, which is available in many cable and satellite markets in the northern tier states, isn't carrying the Olympics at all, having been outbid by CTV. We've always preferred the less histrionic Canadian coverage, and if others did as well, but find it unavailable this year, then they are also forced into improving NBC's ratings even if reluctantly.

The truth is that we can argue until we are blue in the face over whether or not this is a good move for NBC, but as long as it holds a video monopoly, we'll never really know; monopolists always justify their successes in terms of the tactics they have used, when it's the fact of the monopoly that really deserves the credit.

Along with many others, I decided to register my objections to the coverage, using an online feedback form linked to at NBC by Ron Judd, a Seattle Times commentator who has served as a focal point for coverage of viewer displeasure. Apparently I was not alone; NBC either decided to disable the feedback feature, or it blew up on them:

In the spirit of providing a little competition to NBC, here is a link to a list of some alternative ways to watch the real Olympics online.

EDIT:

I should also mention that it's not the case, though many of the supporters seem to insinuate it is, that NBC has only a single channel to work with an to use to accommodate both sports and non-sports fans alike. There are at least six channels available to the NBC empire to show Olympics programming on (and potentially more), some of which live way down at the south end of the cable ghetto and could be loaded up with live, no-commentator coverage of any number of events without any non-sports fan giving a hoot. NBC could make everybody happy; they just don't have to.